Baptist vs Southern Baptist
Baptist and Southern Baptist are two religious groups that display some differences between them, particularly when it comes to the acceptance of certain beliefs and faiths. The main distinction between Baptism and Southern Baptism is that Southern Baptists are members of the Southern Baptist Convention, while Baptists are not. There are other differences between Baptists and Southern Baptists, as they are two separate conventions of the same church. Southern Baptists are renowned for being conservative and very serious about their beliefs. Let’s explore more about Baptists and Southern Baptists.
Who is a Baptist?
The primary Baptist belief is that only individuals who have professed their faith in Christ should be baptized. The Baptist Church governs the individual churches, whereas the Southern Baptist Church does not govern the individual churches. At the same time, the Baptist adheres to the autonomy of the local church, which they do through the system of seminaries. The Sunday School Board is one of the most influential boards of the Baptists.
Baptists believe in a theory known as Sola Scriptura, which states that the Bible is the sole rule of faith. It is said that the Bible does not teach this dogma. Baptists do believe that the word of God is limited to the Bible. The Baptists teach predestination. Furthermore, Baptists view communion and all sacraments as symbolic, not as actual means of grace, whereas it has been a tradition among other groups to view them as actual means of grace.
Who is a Southern Baptist?
Southern Baptist is a denomination or convention of Baptist churches. A Southern Baptist believes in salvation and says that it can only be attained through the grace of God. They assert that salvation can come from Christ alone. They also believe in the Trinity and share 27 books of the New Testament.
The Southern Baptists emerged after a Protestant split from the Church in the 1500s, making them part of a denomination, unlike the Baptists.
The Southern Baptists do not declare that the word of God is limited to the Bible. Both Baptists and Southern Baptists say that adult baptism should be done by immersion. While Baptists do not believe in free will, Southern Baptists do. This is one of the main differences between the two religious groups.
Predestination is accepted by both groups but at different levels. In other words, the theory of predestination is not wholeheartedly supported by the Southern Baptists. According to the Southern Baptist, the scriptures are the sole authority, and there is no authority beyond the scriptures. The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is not accepted by the Southern Baptist. It is widely observed that Southern Baptists live exemplary Christian lives, filled with zeal, and they do their best to preach the Gospel in the way they understand it.
Key Takeaways
- One of the main differences between Baptism and Southern Baptism is that the Southern Baptists are members of Southern Baptist Convention, while the Baptists are not.
- While Baptists do not believe in free will, Southern Baptists do, and they also do not declare that the word of God is limited to the Bible.
- Predestination is accepted by both groups but at different levels, with the theory of predestination not wholeheartedly supported by the Southern Baptists.
